State Rep. Miles under investigation for alleged threats at party

Published 6:00 pm, Friday, January 11, 2008

State Rep. Borris Miles is under investigation in connection with a complaint that he threatened a business rival and brandished a gun at a holiday party last month, officials said.

The Harris County District Attorney's office confirmed Friday that investigators are looking into allegations that the Houston Democrat crashed the party uninvited, pulled out a pistol and forcibly kissed another man's wife. The DA's office said it received a written complaint about the incident, but would not comment further.

At the party last month, Miles referred to himself as a "gangster" and a "thug," said David Harris, who threw the party for his private management company. Harris said Miles then kissed him on both cheeks and the mouth before taking out a gun and placing it in Harris' hands.

Harris said he believes Miles, an insurance agent, was angry because Harris had invested in a rival business.

"He was saying things such as: 'I told you to get out of the insurance business. There ain't room in this town for the two of us. I'm going to come after you and take you down,'" Harris said.

Calls to Miles' insurance and government offices were not immediately returned on Saturday morning. Attempts to reach him at home were unsuccessful.

Nathaniel Rido said that his wife was kissed by Miles before the state representative left.

"A public official acting like that," Rido said. "I was disturbed."

In July, Miles made news when he shot a man in the leg who was apparently trying to steal copper wiring from a home Miles was building. He is licensed to carry a concealed weapon and was not charged in the shooting.